By Aaron Kirkby-Rodier – @AzKirkby9
Leigh Murphy – Lions Legend
Not your typical football story but Leigh Murphy has become not just a Doncaster East legend but an EFL one as well.
Murphy started his junior career at the Doncaster Junior Football Club later than most.
“I started in pretty late, in the Under 13’s at Doncaster and played two years there.”
Murphy was a gun cricketer as a junior playing in most representative sides. So football not really being a priority, he was swayed by friends at school to move clubs.
“Just through mates at school I moved to Beverley Hills and played from 15’s through to Colts. I had a few injuries there I broke both my wrists.”
After his two years with Beverley Hills, Murphy would make the move to the Lions.
“I went to East Doncaster because it’s like the senior club of Beverley Hills. My Older brother played there as well so it was an easy decision.”
Through his junior career Murphy had some success winning an Under 15s premiership with Beverley Hills.
“Didn’t have any success at Doncaster but managed to win a flag in the Under 15’s at Beverley Hills with a few guys who now play for Templestowe. I had the two broken wrists through the next few years there so didn’t play a lot of footy.”
Murphy played some football with Oakleigh Chargers but was focused on his cricket, playing district at a young age.
“I played a bit of footy at Oakleigh but I really wasn’t taking footy that seriously it was more about cricket for me as I was in the institute of sport. I was playing district cricket at Melbourne Uni and had a year in England so that takes up a lot of time.”
“Footy was just something I did in the winter I didn’t really start to take it seriously till I was 21/22.”
At Doncaster East Murphy debuted at 17 in the seniors, going on to be arguably the Lions most decorated player.
“I won my first best and fairest in 2005 and that was pretty special.”
Murphy would go on to win six Best and Fairests, but for him they take a back seat to the 2007 premiership.
“The Best and Fairests are something I will probably look back on and its great to get recognition but the real highlight for me was premiership.”
Murphy would win the best and fairest in the premiership year and that something he does look back on fondly.
“To be judged the best player in a premiership winning team is a great honour and is something that when you think about it is pretty special.”
Losing two grand finals in 2002 and 2005 made the premiership win a great relief.
“It was more of a relief, losing two finals previously we were just wrapt to win one. We probably had a better side in 2005 but just went in a bit cocky and Bayswater beat us by a goal.”
“I think losing the first two grand finals made the win all that more special.”
Murphy was given the captaincy after the premiership year.
“I’m probably not a natural captain I’m not a very vocal person but I captained the side for probably half of 2007 because of injury so that gave me a good lead in. It was something I was thrown into but I grew into the role.”
Captaining from 2008 till 2014 Murphy racked up the accolades and awards including four times in an EFL team of the year.
“To be voted by the coaches from other sides and recognised in the best team for that year is great and something ill look back on.”
Murphy was given life membership to Doncaster East in 2012 something he describes as a great honour.
“It was a pretty big honour I wasn’t expecting it on the night, you don’t go out trying to get those awards they just come about. Being there since 2001 it was my second home and I made plenty of great friends there, but it was very special to get that on the night with other friends and hopefully one day we can all go back there and talk about the good old days.”
After 2014 Murphy would decide it was time to move on from the Lions and start a new chapter with the Templestowe Dockers something that wasn’t an easy decision.
“It was difficult I still love the club and players, for the last four of five years I’ve had other clubs ring and try and get me down and get involved with the coaching side of things. I had never really thought about it and just concentrated on playing footy, now I’m getting a bit older and if I want to get involved in coaching I should probably start now.”
“I saw Templestowe play last year in the finals and was really impressed, I’ve got a connection here knowing some of the players and committee. Rick Irwin also impressed me and so did the playing group.”
“It was really hard leaving but I think the club could understand that I wanted to try new things.”
For 2015 and beyond Murphy will be a playing assistant at the Dockers and hasn’t decided about weather he will pursue a senior job.
“I haven’t really thought about senior coaching yet. It’s just dipping a toe in the water while I’m still playing I suppose and seeing how I like it. I don’t think ill ever want to be a playing senior coach so we will see how it goes.”
Moving to Templestowe Murphy also had the lure of a premiership after the Dockers narrowly missing out in 2013.
“That definitely added weight to coming over unfortunately we hadn’t played finals footy for a while at Doncaster East and you miss that so hopefully this is our year.”
Missing early 2015 with a broken arm Murphy is still hoping to play football beyond this season.
“Going in to this year it’s probably the best my body has felt in a while and its something I’ll sit down at the end of each year and decide. I don’t want to be one of those players that goes on too long and people say he used to be a good footballer but now he struggles to get a kick.”
Murphy hopes that if this is his final season that he could finish with the ultimate glory.
“It would be great to go out on a flag if it does turn out to be it for me and I think that has to be the expectation (a Premiership) after making the grand final last year.”
Murphy truly is legend of the Doncaster East Football Club and when his time does come to a close in the EFL he will certainly be remembered as one of the best.